NovelGoldChapter 25 Shards of glass littered the entryway, crunching under Citrine's shoes as she stepped inside. The whole restaurant was a disaster zone-pots and pans strewn everywhere, overturned tables and chairs lying in chaotic heaps across the floor.
Citrine took in the wreckage with a quick glance, reaching for her phone to call and find out where everyone was. Before she could dial, a sharp, piercing cry echoed from the private room at the back.
She turned and pushed the door open. Just as she expected, Alicia was lounging carelessly atop a dining table, flanked by several broad-shouldered men in black suits.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIn the corner, Amelia crouched by herself. Her parents clung to a little boy, shielding him tightly in their arms as they sobbed. The looks they shot Amelia weren't those of worried parents, but the bitter, hateful glares of people staring down an enemy.
Citrine didn't linger on the scene. She quickly looked away from the family of three and strode over to Amelia, helping her to her feet. "Hey, honey, are you okay?" As she spoke, Citrine's gaze swept over Amelia from head to toe, only relaxing when she saw there were no visible injuries.
"I'm fine, Citrine. Really," Amelia sniffled, her eyes rimmed with tears. She'd convinced herself Citrine wouldn't come-but here she was, danger and all.
Only after Amelia reassured her did Citrine turn to Alicia. "What is it you want?" Alicia grinned. "You know why I trashed Amelia's place, don't you?" Just imagining Citrine groveling before her in a few minutes had Alicia feeling triumphant.
Citrine narrowed her eyes, then suddenly smiled. "Because of me." She'd known exactly what kind of mind games Alicia was playing from the moment she arrived.
Her answer was so direct that Alicia was caught off guard-this wasn't the reaction she'd expected. But she shrugged it off.
"Well, at least you're self-aware," Alicia sneered, shifting all the blonto Citrine. "If it weren't for you, I'd never have messed with the Lawsons. Amelia's only in this mess because she's friends with you. Don't you feel even a little guilty?" Citrine's expression didn't waver. She didn't even hesitate. "Why should I feel guilty?" she replied. "I haven't done anything wrong." Alicia's accusations hit a wall, her words faltering. Frustrated, she snapped, "If you hadn't crossed me, Amelia wouldn't be caught up in this!" "You're the one harassing Amelia. You're the one who smashed up their restaurant. What does that have to do with me? Did I make you do any of this?" Citrine shot back, genuinely baffled by Alicia's twisted logic.
For a moment, Alicia had no comeback. Fuming, she glared at Amelia instead.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"So this is your so-called 'best friend,' huh? You think she cares about you, but clearly, you're the only one who feels that way." Amelia pressed her lips together, silent.
Sensing an opening, Alicia pressed on. "If you hadn't gotten involved with her, do you really think today would have happened?"
The room fell so quiet, you could hear a pin drop-until Amelia's father, Fabian Lawson, broke the silence with a skritt voice. "Amelia! Look at the kind of people you bring into our lives. See what you've done to our family! Apologize to this young lady right now!" Fabian shot Alicia a sycophantic smile, groveling like a stray begging for scraps. Dignity didn't matter anymore- not when fear took its place.
"Shut up," Amelia snapped, her cheeks burning with shat the sight of her father groveling. How was she even related to people like this?
Fabian, stung by his daughter's words, looked as though he wanted to scold but when Alicia said nothing, he just pressed his lips together and fell silent. A few minutes later, the wail of police sirens rang out from the street.
Alicia's face drained of color. "Who the hell called the cops?"
The Chase family was one of Havencrest's old money dynasties; ordinary people usually didn't dare' cross them. Alicia had gotten away with stunts like this before, hiding behind her family name. No one ever e dared get involved until now.
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